Chapter 12: The first wave

As Veretta read the book to Errik, she felt a rush of self-consciousness. Reading aloud reminded her of being a child. She kept looking to Errik expectantly, wondering if anything had brought back his memories. However, his expression as he listened remained completely unchanged.

At the end of the first chapter, Veretta paused.

"Do you want me to go on?" she asked hopefully.

"No," Errik answered quickly, "that's enough for tonight,"

"Okay," Veretta's eyes panned down to the table disappointed. Errik stood up briskly and disappeared for the night. Veretta let out a sigh as she leant back in her chair. What was she expecting?

"You told him you could draw the line between the stories and him," came a voice, "are you sure that was truthful, Veretta?"

Veretta glanced back at her grandmother who was knitting by the fire, "Yes, I'm sure," Veretta said quietly.

"Good girl," came the reply.

That night, Veretta didn't leave her seat by the fire. She remained bundled up in a quilt till the chill of early dawn rustled her from her sleep. Veretta glanced around the dark cold room. She was alone. Her heart sank as she slowly peeled back the blanket.

She was about to take out the bread when she heard a sharp pop. Veretta turned apprehensively. Then she heard it again. What followed next, sent shivers down her spine. A blood curdling scream echoed through the sleepy village. Veretta at once took her cloak and raced outside.

Just beyond the white covered rooftops, a slither of black smoke was ascending from the forest. Veretta's eyes widened fearfully. She wrapped her hand tightly around the sword at her hip. Was this is?

Within moments, Errik emerged at her side.

"Are you ready?" he smiled darkly.

"No," Veretta faltered through a shaky breath, "but it doesn't matter. Let's go,"

"You don't need to be afraid," Errik glanced down with his usual incomprehensible gaze, "I will be your shield, remember?"

Veretta swallowed uneasily, "I don't give you permission to die, Errik? Do you understand? We're both going to come out of this with what we want. That was our deal,"

"Who said I'm going to die?" Errik marched on with a grin.

Veretta followed but her heart was already racing. A rush of memories hit her like the icy wind. She could recall acutely the moment they told her that her family had been killed. A casualty of the start of the war they said. Her parents were visiting scholars in one of the southern territories. It had been so peaceful they had even taken her grandmother. So peaceful until he came...

Veretta balled her fist. The fear was overtaken by the seething anger barely beneath the surface. For so long she had kept it under wraps. Not this time...Silthus would pay for what he did. They all would.

She had been thinking for some time how to get her revenge. Of course the college would not hear of it so she had to take matters into her own hands. She had performed forbidden magic. Pushed her friends away. She had even killed a man. Yet, it would all be worth it to see Silthus dead, wouldn't it?

Errik and Veretta reached the forest quickly. It was now filled with black smoke. A fire was ravaging to the south. The snow covered trees were peeled back with black burns. The snow had stopped the spread of fire but the smoke filled the air like a screen.

As they cut through the cloud of opaque smouldering ash, a terrible scene unfolded. There were great shards of ice jetting up from the white surface dusted in black. Impaled on one of these large slick points was a man slumped over dead. Blood poured down the white ice. Veretta's eyes watered from the sight of it.

Though she had placed the spells with Errik herself, the actual outcome was far worse than she imagined. It was an effective defense nonetheless. Several others had been struck by other ruin carved stones throughout the forest. Some were charred beyond recognition and others buried in ice.

Veretta and Errik went on, finally as the smoke began to clear. A line of men cut through the blaze just below. There were hundreds marching up the hillside with no sign of stopping in sight. Veretta turned to Erik gravely and nodded. He held out his hand.

A tidal wave of magic gathered at the top of the hill and flew down. The lines of men were hit by the wave of it and crashed down the hillside. As those remaining tried to regain their footing, the energy crystallized. Dozens were frozen solid in great walls of ice.

Veretta stepped forward with her sword in hand. The hesitation in her eyes disappeared. She threw out her sword. A shot of energy ricocheted down the hill side cutting through another line of men.

At the bottom of the hill, the archers took aim. A round of flaming arrows penetrated the grey sky and flew towards them. Errik stepped forward and with a flick of his wrist all the arrows were caught in a wall of ice.

In spite of this effort, several fleets of soldiers remained. They quickly began to mount the hillside once more. This time they were protected by another shower of arrows. Veretta steadied her hand and shot a flash of lightning into the sky. The arrows were stopped mid air. In the same instance, Errik launched another wave of magic down the hillside.

The army began to retreat back. However they weren't finished yet. Veretta turned just as an arrow shot at her from between the trees. Errik sliced through it with his sword.

"It looks like they don't want to back down," he smiled.

"No, I don't expect they do," Veretta breathed soberly, "but neither will I,"

She stared out at the mounting number of soldiers surrounding them. The wind hit from the north as it always did, but she felt strangely resolved against it. There was anger burning brightly within. Enough to warm her, enough to move her.

Veretta held up her sword. She flung sharpely towards the trees as Errik had shown her. The air whizzed across the snow parting it deeply. It ricocheted off the tree trunks and cut them in half. As the trees fell, a group of soldiers were exposed. Errik caught them immediately in his ice magic.

The battle continued in the same manner as a standoff ensued between the emerging number of soldiers. Veretta began to feel her magic running low. Still there seemed to be more soldiers filtering through the white forests like shadows too quick to catch.

Nevertheless, Errik seemed unusually motivated in his pursuit of those remaining. The cruel glare in his eyes intensified as he cut through sliders with his sword alone. He sliced with such speed and ferocity the snow was sprayed with blood. Even without a shred of magic he tore through half the legion on his own. He disappeared for some time into the forest and no man made it past him alive.

Veretta defended against the rear assault but every now and then she would glance back. Finally, she caught sight of Errik once more arriving from the clearing. The sight ought not to have shocked her in the midst of the chaos and destruction. Nevertheless the wild unhinged expression on his eyes was like nothing she had ever seen before. His black armour was coated in blooded and his sword was still dripping as he approached. Without saying a word, he marched forward and set off along the hillside in the same manner.

The vanguard of soldiers were defeated completely.

"We did it," Veretta said breathlessly.

Errik stared down the hillside, "no, there's more,"

Veretta looked further on. Appearing down the valley and beyond, there was a line of soldiers marching over the hillside. Line after line followed.

"How many more can there be?" Veretta bit her lip, "I'm already low on magic,"

"You said it was an army," Errik said quietly, "you didn't think it would be this easy, did you?"

Veretta glanced over at him apprehensively. His stony yellowish eyes were on her with the same wild almost manic gaze.

"No," Veretta answered.

Errik turned back swiftly, "We need to gain some distance and fortify the village,"

He started back quickly. Veretta followed though she felt her energy waning. They reached the base of the forest. Errik turned to the village briskly and held out his hand. A line of ice rose around the perimeter. It was close to encapsulating the whole village when there was a shout from within. Errik clenched his hand and the ice halted.

"Veretta!"came a cry, "Veretta?! Where are you?"

Veretta stared down surprised. Coming out the village gate hastily, Tomas and Charlotte started up the narrow path. Tomas reached them first breathlessly.

"We've...been looking for you," he huffed. His eyes panned up to Errik's blood splattered armour apprehensively. His breath temporarily halted and he turned to Veretta with wide fearful eyes, "Are they here?"

"Yes," Veretta's brow furrowed, "but I thought you were going back to the college.."

"I know. I know," Tomas frowned, "but we came back,"

"Why?" Veretta faltered, "I was terrible to you both,"

Charlotte reached Tomas' side as Veretta uttered the words.

"You weren't yourself," Charlotte gave an uneasy smile, "but that doesn't mean we should have left. We came here to help. How can we leave when things are just about to get difficult?"

"Charlotte..." Veretta's eyes watered.

"Yes, well," Tomas sniffed, "someone decide they wanted to come back so I came as well. But I'm still annoyed at you Veretta. You've been quite mean to me lately. Ah, but I'll forgive you for now," he declared.

Veretta gave a weak smile, "I'm sorry, Tomas,"

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Errik said flatly, "but we don't have time for this, Veretta."

"Mood killer as always," Tomas scoffed, "Well, what's the damage? How far have they got?"

"We stopped the first attack but there's more on the otherside of the hill. Errik's magic is blocking them but they'll have started around it by now. They'll probably hit from the east and the west." Veretta explained.

"Well, we should split in two," Charlotte said thoughtfully. "Since you and Errik have been fighting, one of use should accompany each of you to reinforce with magic since we're still at full power,"

"Okay, come with me you," Errik grabbed hold of Tomas at once and started to march away. Tomas turned back mournfully.

"Can't I go with one of the girls?" he lamented.

"No," Errik returned sternly, "So move faster. What do you have those long legs for?"

"I can't tell if you're complimenting me or not," Tomas sniffed.

"Definitely not," came the sharp rejoinder.